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Click here to lean more about how Gov. Wolf and the House Democrats would fund schools with a commonsense severance tax, eliminate the structural budget deficit without gimmicks and reduce property taxes for middle-class families and seniors. Read more

HARRISBURG, July 9 – As a member of Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education Board of Governors, state Rep. Mike Hanna, D-Clinton/Centre, today voted to approve a new advanced-degree program for Lock Haven University and voted against increasing tuition at the 14 state-system schools. According to Hanna, Lock Haven University will now offer a master’s degree in actuarial science beginning in fall 2016. The degree, offered fully online, will prepare graduates to work as professional actuaries in the business and government sectors. “Lock Haven University is continually working to offer programs and degrees that meet the needs of Pennsylvania students and the employers who will eventually hire them,” Hanna said. “I am proud to champion for Lock Haven on the board of governors and as its state representative.” Hanna said that over the past five years, the 14 universities have introduced more than 270 new degree and certificate programs and minors. They’ve also discontinued more than 385 outdated and low-enrolled programs and reorganized or reinstated 75 others to meet new market demands. Hanna said the board also voted to increase tuition by 3.5 percent at all 14 state-system schools for the 2015-16 school year, despite a motion he made to move that decision until the board convened on July 24. Hanna voted against the tuition increase. “I am disappointed that the board took this action while budget Read more

HARRISBURG, JULY 9 – House Democratic leaders said Gov. Tom Wolf's veto of a Republican pension bill today will preserve retirement security for tens of thousands of future Pennsylvania workers. "The complicated and convoluted Republican pension bill had a lot of flaws, but one of the biggest was that it did nothing to save the state or school districts money in the upcoming budget," House Democratic Leader Frank Dermody said. "It never was clear why Republicans insisted on making passage of this plan part of their budget package. Their leaders even admitted during the last week of June that it offered no budgetary savings." The bill also failed to pay down the state's $50 billion pension debt any faster than the current law, Act 120, which was passed with significant bipartisan support just five years ago. House Democratic Whip Mike Hanna said the debt is primarily the result of poor decisions made by previous governors and legislatures, as well as the impact of the Great Recession. "None of the factors that caused the current pension debt were the fault of workers," Hanna said. "They have always paid into the system from the beginning, and under the 2010 law, have already seen $33 billion in benefit cuts and more of the pension risk shifted to them and away from taxpayers." Hanna pointed out the Republican bill would have slashed new worker benefits by another 70 percent on top of the cuts already in place Read more

HARRISBURG, June 30 – House Democratic leaders welcomed and spoke approvingly of Gov. Tom Wolf’s veto of the Republican budget bill presented to him today. “Republicans wasted a lot of time in the last few days working on a dead-end budget that wasn’t balanced and would have ultimately created a $3 billion deficit,” said Democratic Leader Frank Dermody. “Now that the governor vetoed the budget, it’s time for all of us to get back to work on a real budget plan that constructively helps the people of Pennsylvania.” “The governor has been more than willing to meet and work with Republicans and Democrats since he took office in January,” said Democratic Whip Mike Hanna. “His door has been open and he made it clear that he’s ready to continue discussions. Democrats will be there with him.” “The Republican budget plan never added up,” said Appropriations Committee Democratic Chairman Joe Markosek. “It was built on mystery math and one-time gimmicks that would only exacerbate the actual budget deficit.” “With this veto, we now should resume working on a budget that lowers property taxes, funds education through a tax on drilling, and responsibly closes the deficit,” Dermody said. Read more

HARRISBURG, June 28 – The House Democratic Caucus is working with Gov. Tom Wolf to achieve a substantial jump in funding of the four state-related universities and the state’s veterinary school in this year’s state budget process. As part of that continuing effort, Democratic legislators today voted against legislation containing only small increases for the institutions, said Democratic Leader Frank Dermody. “The Republican majority offered paltry funding increases for Penn State, Pitt, Temple and Lincoln universities and the veterinary school at the University of Pennsylvania,” Dermody said. “We can and we must do better than this. “The governor set a clear goal of restoring deep funding cuts to the schools over the next two years. The Republican bills don’t do that and if they passed, then each of these schools would be forced to impose huge tuition hikes on students beginning in less than two months,” Dermody said. Because of a constitutional requirement, these university appropriations require the support of two-thirds of House members. Without Democratic support, the bills fell well short of that threshold today. “This is not the end of the story,” said Democratic Whip Mike Hanna. “In a very short time, the House will again have a chance to vote on these appropriations. If the funding levels are sufficiently close to what the governor is proposing, then Read more

During the summer months, Pennsylvania is frequently visited by transient criminals who travel great distances in search of victims for their various money-making scams. Please review this bulletin from the Pennsylvania State Police to learn more about two of the most prevalent scams perpetrated on Pennsylvanians. Read more

HARRISBURG, June 27 – House Democratic leaders said today the 2015-16 budget proposal approved today by House Republicans would leave Pennsylvania with an even larger structural deficit, struggling schools, lower student test scores and higher property taxes for homeowners. "I'm sure the people of Pennsylvania did not expect a budget that embraces almost every single gimmick, failed policy and discredited approach we saw from 2011 to 2014," said Democratic Leader Frank Dermody. "But that’s exactly what Republicans are trying to do again. "Pennsylvanians who suffered under higher property taxes, loss of services, rising college tuition and stagnant economic growth for the last four years certainly won’t like this Republican budget," Dermody said. "It's status-quo all the way, both in process and policy." Democratic Whip Mike Hanna, D-Centre/Clinton, agreed. “Pennsylvanians have made it crystal clear,” he said. “They need a budget that makes education a priority and makes gas drillers pay a fair share. They need a budget that restores the devastating cuts made to both basic education and higher education. They need a budget that provides historic, statewide property tax relief. “Despite this, the Republican budget makes no commitment to education or property tax relief and it embraces the same unworkable strategies they used in the past. It didn’t work then and it won’t Read more

HARRISBURG, June 10 – State Rep. Mike Hanna, D-Clinton/Centre, today applauded Gov. Tom Wolf’s decision to waive fees for the state background clearance checks Pennsylvania volunteers are required to obtain under new state laws. Wolf today said his administration would waive the $10 Pennsylvania State Police criminal history check and the $10 Department of Human Services child abuse check fees for volunteers who are required to obtain them under Pennsylvania’s new Child Protective Services Law. Those clearances are requirements under the law enacted last year in an effort to better address how Pennsylvania responds to child abuse. “Volunteers dedicate their scarce time and talents toward bettering the lives of others and the communities in which they live, work and raise their families,” Hanna said. “The state should recognize their sacrifice and contributions by doing these background and clearance checks at no charge to the volunteer, and I am delighted that Governor Wolf agrees. “Unburdening our volunteers of these fees will go a long way in helping to keep volunteer organization and activities thriving in Pennsylvania. This is welcome news for organizations throughout Clinton and Centre counties.” According to figures from the Wolf administration, nearly 300,000 volunteers are projected to seek the clearances in the first year. According to Hanna, Wolf today also said the Department of Human Services and Read more

This Community Needs Assessment study is a community resource and asset. It provides a broad view of the community and partner perception of needs in Clinton County. To read more, click on the link. Read more

Harrisburg – June 2, 2015 – Legislative Democrats gathered in the state Capitol for a news conference today to highlight the broad and deep support in the General Assembly for legislation that would create a new $1 billion natural gas extraction tax for education. Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) and Democratic Appropriations Chair Vincent J. Hughes (D-Philadelphia) along with House Democratic Leader Frank Dermody (D-Allegheny), Democratic Whip Mike Hanna (D-Clinton) and Democratic Appropriations Chair Joe Markosek (D-Allegheny) in concert with Democratic members of both the Senate and House called on Republicans to move the education investment plan. In his March budget address, Gov. Tom Wolf proposed a new Marcellus Shale gas extraction tax of 5 percent, with a 4.7 cent tax on volume. The plan contains a provision to ensure that the distribution of Act 13 fee revenue to communities is maintained. “There has been far too little talk and too many delays in considering a gas extraction tax plan that would raise $1 billion for education,” Costa said. “The Republicans in both the Senate and House seem hesitant about addressing the substance of the governor’s proposal and uninterested in examining responsible education investment proposals.” The governor’s plan would generate an estimated $1.015 billion in fiscal 2016-17. “The severance tax proposed by the governor is reasonable and responsible and Read more

HARRISBURG, May 28 – State Rep. Mike Hanna, D-Clinton/Centre, today said that Bakers Construction, Inc. in Centre County and Databit Solutions in Clinton County both received a Small Business Advantage Grant. Hanna said he is proud to see Bakers Construction, Inc. receive $6,307 and Databit Solutions receive $9,500 from the state. Gov. Tom Wolf today announced that nearly 140 businesses across Pennsylvania will soon install energy-efficiency or pollution-prevention projects by using the Small Business Advantage Grants provided by the Department of Environmental Protection. This year, DEP awarded more than $980,000 to 139 small businesses. “Energy efficiency technology is improving the lives of all Pennsylvania residents,” Hanna said. “These grants will not only help the two small businesses in my district, but will help improve Pennsylvania’s environment as a whole.” Pennsylvania’s Small Business Advantage Grant Program is funded through the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act, which helps businesses with 100 or fewer employees. It provides 50 percent matching reimbursement of up to $9,500 to implement projects that will save 25 percent annually in pollution-prevention or energy-related costs. Since 2004, the program has awarded nearly $9.5 million to 1,915 small businesses statewide. Read more

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